Israeli forces close Huwwara checkpoint in Nablus

NABLUS (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces on Wednesday closed the Huwwara military checkpoint in south of Nablus city in the northern occupied West Bank.

The checkpoint, which connects the northern and central West Bank, was closed in both directions.

Israeli forces opened the Awarta checkpoint east of Nablus as a detour.

Palestinian security sources told Ma’an that the closure is in effect until further notices.

The closure was seemingly enforced in response to a shooting attack on Tuesday night in the area that resulted in the death of an Israeli settler.

The attack took place near the Palestinian village of Surra, which was raided shortly after the incident.

Israeli forces routinely place entire Palestinian villages under closures following actual or alleged attacks, a policy which rights groups have called “collective punishment.”

Other Israeli policies implemented following attacks, such as punitive home demolitions, and revocation of Israeli work permits for relatives of assailants have been decried by rights groups as a serious violation of international law and human rights.